User blog:Biggren/The Lands of Ice and Snow

Chapter 1

 * In the dead of Winter he came: Feeraz Icetung!
 * Emperor of the Icy Lands! Feeraz the Terrible! Feeraz the Cold, The Slayer, The Coldhearted One! His vessels laden with corsairs and his own personal army: the white foxes and ermines of the Northern Wastelands, often called the Lands of Ice and Snow, the tall, thin white ermine stood proudly at the bowsprit of his leading ship, the Coldwake. Behind and beside him sailed his armada- the Bloodhelm, under Captain Sciffla; the Seascourge under Grimear; the Blackstern, Aggra's ship; the Clawstern under Girfidd the weasel and the Skulsail at Clobb Stubtooth's command. The old galley Scublunk brought up the rear, co-captained by the rat brothers Glurb and Weggla. A seventh ship had disappeared during the storm that brought them to these waters- the Bloodbrine, Clawlug the ferret's vessel. The ermine Emperor of the Lands of Ice and Snow mulled over this unhappily, knowing that Clawlug was his second-best captain and the Bloodbrine his second-best ship.
 * At that moment Grivlu, a small ermine and Feeraz's chief aide approached him quietly but uneasily. "Lord," reported the ermine, "Griblag and Krabba, two weasel corsairs, were lost aboard Seascourge and at least a halfscore oarslaves aboard Girfidd's ship. Otherwise, yer army numbers eight and forty score. Enough for any endeavor ye decide to undertake. Here comes Girfidd now." Feeraz turned and smiled to his aide. Before he could make a reply, however, the soft clunk of a ship's boat was heard as a rowboat was moored to the Coldwake amidships. A rope ladder was thrown overboard and up came a very unhappy weasel.
 * "Ah, Girfidd my friend," said Feeraz addressing the weasel. "You have a problem ?"
 * "Aye cap'n," said the weasel irritably. "I wants ter know where my pay is! I deserve sumthin' fer how many oarslaves I lost! I lost the most-thirteen slaves!" Feeraz looked at him lazily, unfazed by the weasel's barrage. He grinned with a lackadaisical smile and said, "And? We all make investments in my fleet, friend Girfidd." Stunned, Girfidd half-drew his sword. "I want my due, Feeraz, or my ship'll be on the horizon within the hour!"
 * The ermine's reaction was swift. He wrenched a spear from a guard and slew Girfidd where he stood in mere seconds. "You got your due, and extras," he said to the emotionless face of Girfidd. Feeraz turned to the guard. "Stick this dissident to the mainmast with the spear that took him." The guard dutifully obeyed while the Coldwake 's crew gawked on. "What are you staring at???" The crowd dispersed leaving one pirate fox. "The other Cap'n's won't like-" began the fox. "The other Captains will live with it!" roared Feeraz. "Besides," he added with an evil smile, "nobeast asks Feeraz Icetung for "pay"."